Upper adjusting device for band-saws.



No. 779,158. PATENTED JAN. 3, 1905. E. HARROLD & G. G. WILDERSON.

UPPER ADJUSTING DEVICE FOR BAND SAWS.

APPLIOATION FILED MAR. s, 1904.

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UPPER ADJUSTING DEVICE FOR BAND SAWS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 3, 1904.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Patented January 3, 1905.

PATENT @FFICE.

ELMER HARROLD AND CLINTON G. WILDERSON, OF LEETONIA, OHIO.

UPPER ADJUSTING DEVICE FOR BAND-SAWS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 779,158, dated January 3, 1905.

Application filed March 3, 1904. Serial No. 196,276.

To all whom. it may concern:

Be it known that we, ELMER HARROLD and CLINTON G. WILDERSON, citizens of the United States of America, and residents of Leetonia, in the county of Oolumbiana and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Upper Adjusting Devices for Band-Saws, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in upper adjustments for band-saws.

In a band-saw the following are essential points of a good construction: The upper wheel must be adjustable up and down to accommodate saws of varying lengths. upper wheel must also automatically adjust itself to keep the tension of the saw taut when the saw expands from the heat created by friction in use. The said upper wheel must also be capable of being angled or inclined backward or forward to lead the saw on the proper path on the face of the wheels.

The improvements hereinafter described are provided for the purpose of insuring all of these points of advantage in a band-saw.

We aim, further, at improvements in the details of construction whereby better results are attained andthe economy of space secured as well as convenience in assembling the parts.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter appear, and the novel features thereof will be specifically defined by the appended claims.

The invention in its preferred form is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which, with the numerals of reference marked thereon, form a part of this specification, and in which Figure l is a perspective View showing the application of our invention. Fig. 2 is a detail, partly in elevation and partly in vertical section, showing the adjusting-screw. Fig. 2 is a similar view of a modification. Fig. 3 is a side elevation showing a form of weight tension device. Fig. 4 is a top plan view thereof with parts in section, the section being taken on the line 00 w of Fig. 3 looking in This the direction of the arrows. Fig. 5 is a top plan view of the adjusting mechanism with a portion broken away.

Like numerals of reference indicate like parts throughout the several views where they appear.

Referring now to the details of the drawings, 1 designates a portion of the frame, 2 the upper wheel, and 3 the upper wheel-shaft. These parts and others herein shown, but not specifically described, may be of any wellknown form of construction in this class of devices and are herein illustrated merely for the purpose of making clear the mode of application of the present invention and its relation to such parts.

4 is a casting, which may be either integral with the main frame or formed separate therefrom and bolted thereto. In the present instance it is shown as formed separately and bolted to the main frame, as by bolts or capscrew 5, the standard-casting 4 being formed with a lateral flange 6, matching a lateral flange 7 on the main frame and through or into which the bolts or cap-screws are designed to pass. By thus making this standard detachable from the main frame we effect a material saving in space in shipment or storage as well as providing for ease in replacing should the saidpart become broken or damaged in any way.

I 8 is a sliding head having sliding and preferably dovetail engagement with the standard 4c, while 9 represents set-screws with jam-nuts 10 on the same for taking up the slack that may be caused by wearing of the standard and of the head to assure snug working.

11 is the bearing for the upper shaft. It is shown'in this instance as made in halves or sections designed to be suitably secured together.

12 is a stout steel spring designed to be disposed beneath the end of the upper shaft, as shown in Fig. 1, and surrounding a screw 13, provided with a suitable hand-wheel or the like 14, by which it may be readily turned. This spring 12 serves as a yielding means to allow the wheels to turn from direct alinement under the pressure upon the saw by the work and constitutes an automatic means for returning the Wheels to their normal position when the pressure of the work on the saw is discontinued.

15 is a lateral lug on the sliding head 8, and 16 is avertical bolt held in said lug and upon which is mounted for movement the pivotbracket 17, having at one end the yoke 18, which is pivotally connected, as at 19, with the lower portion of the upper shaft-bearing, as seen in Fig.1. The other end of this bracket terminates in an enlargement through which passes the rod 13, a washer 20 being placed on the rod above the enlargement, and the hand-wheel 14 is engaged with the threaded end of this rod below said enlargement. The

spring 12 finds a bearing on the said washer.

21 is a screw-rod provided at its lower end with a suitable hand-wheel or the like 22, and this rod passes through a vertical opening 23 in the frame 1, which is provided at this point with the enlargement 24:, and around this screw-rod is a stout spring 25, which is confined between a collar 26 (seen best in Fig. 2) and a plate or small casting 27, (shown in the same view.) This screw-rod engages in a lateral lug 28, projecting from the sliding head 8, as seen best in Fig. 5.

The sliding head 8 is provided with a pocket or socket 29, in which is located a steel gib 30, which is designed to be adjusted by the set-screws 9 to take up the slack or wear.

The operation is as follows: First, in putting a saw on the wheels, the lower one of which is not herein shown, the upper Wheel is lowered sufficiently to let the saw go on the wheels slack. Then the handwheel 22 is turned until the saw is stretched to the required tension. The tension-spring 25 will compress somewhat in the meantime. The machine is then given a few turns, usually by hand, to see if the saw tracks properly on the wheels. If the saw runs back too far on the face of the wheels, the wheel must be inclined a little forward to get the saw to proper position on the wheels. If the saw runs forward on the wheels, then the wheel must be inclined backward. To incline the upper wheel backward or forward, the hand-screw 14 is turned, the spring 12 serving merely to take up the slack. This spring, however, is further of value in case of breaking of the saw, as it prevents the upper wheel from tipping over, due to the impact of the breaking saw, which might cause further damage.

In practice a saw becomes slightly warm while in use, especially when turning sharp curves, from friction, and the warming up of the saw causes it to expand, which will lengthen it a little, and the tension-spring 25 serves to take up the slack and compensate for the expansion and contraction, thus keeping the saw-blade practically uniform automatically.

justment to bring the upper wheel of the bandsaw into a proper alinement with the lower wheel, and also the pivot-bracket can be turned .sidewise on this bolt to bring the upper wheel in the same plane as the lower wheel or what is known in this art as a cross-line adjustment. Ordinarily this bolt is screwed up tight when the machine is set up and is not disturbed thereafter; but should adjustments at any time be necessary it will be readily seen that there are provisions for adjustments in all three tions.

The plate or casting 27 may sometimes be omitted and the spring allowed to rest upon a bearing 23, formed by the bottom of the socket or opening 23 in the frame, as seen in Fig. 2.

In lieu of the spring tension hereinbefore described we may sometimes employ a weight tension, the effect being practically the same. One form of such weight tension is illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4c. In these views the frame 1, the screw-rod 21, its hand-wheel 22, and the connection of the rod with the lug on the sliding head are supposed to be the same as above described; but the tension-spring 25 is dispensed with and in its stead we employ a lever 31, pivoted at 32 on a lug or the like 33, rigid with the frame 1, as seen in Fig. 3, and this lever is provided with the adjustable weight 34:, sleeved thereon upon one side of its pivot, the other end beingbifurcated, as shown at 35 in Fig. 4, and this bifurcated end disposed beneath and engages the under side of a collar 36 on the screw-rod 21. It is to be understood that there is no change whatever in the upper part of the construction. The weight takes the place of the tension-spring, the action being the same in both instances.

From the above it will be seen that we have provided a simple and efficient yet reliable adjustment for the upper wheel of the band-saw, and while the structural embodiment of the invention as herein disclosed is what we at the present time consider preferable it is evident that the same is subject to changes, variations, and modifications without departing from the spirit of the invention or sacrficing any of its advantages. We therefore do not wish to be restricted to the details of construction herein shown and described, but reserve the right to make such changes, variations, and modifications as come properly within the scope of the protection prayed.

What is claimed as new is 1. In an upper adjustment for band-saws, a shaft-bearing, a pivot-bracket mounted on a vertical pivot, a yoke carried by one end of said bracket and having pivotal connection with the bearing, a sliding head having a lateral lug in Which the pivot of said bracket is supported, means for actuating said sliding head, and. means independent thereof for giving to said bearing the necessary movements on its pivot.

2. In an upper adjustment for band-saws, a shaft-bearing, a horizontally-swinging support, a yoke movable With said support and having pivotal connection with said bearing, a sliding head carrying said support, means for giving said bearing the necessary movements on its pivot, and a tension device for said means.

3. In an upper adjustment for band-saws, a

ELMER HARROL'D. CLINTON G. WILDERSON.

Witnesses:

JOHN B. MORGAN, GORA A. RANKIN. 

